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Help me find an obscure JRPG to play

GhostCow

Balanced Gamer
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Jan 2, 2020
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I saw a comment on here the other day where someone said something like "There's always an obscure JRPG you haven't played". Hopefully that holds true enough that I can find one I like. Here's what I'm looking for:

Must be in English or have a fan translation patch
Be turn based (No ATB shit like FFX-2)
Not first person (I like seeing combat animations)
Have some kind of character customization like skill/stat points to assign on level up or classes to master for gaining skills (I'd count something like the sphere grid in FFX. Think FF Tactics for a job system)
16-bit era or newer
 

Falksi

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Feb 14, 2017
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Shadow Hearts Covenant isn't obscure, but is often missed so I'll mention is as it's a class game.

Koudelka on the PS1, & Robotrek on the SNES are two others to give a gander.

Doubt any of them meet all your requirements, but just spend an hour playing them and see how you take to them.
 

GhostCow

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Shadow Hearts Covenant isn't obscure, but is often missed so I'll mention is as it's a class game.

Koudelka on the PS1, & Robotrek on the SNES are two others to give a gander.

Doubt any of them meet all your requirements, but just spend an hour playing them and see how you take to them.

Haven't heard of any of those but I'll look into them


I've played search for eden multiple times and loved it. Never heard of this one. I'll check it out too
 

Ysaye

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May 27, 2018
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771
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Australia
Have you played Brandish? I find it to be a bit of an odd game, but it has:

(1) Turn based combat (very rogue-like though in the way it works);
(2) Stats that you can level up through usage that change the way you can play; and
(3) Third person perspective with combat animations.

Originally out on a number of systems, but I would play the PSP version if you can get access to that.

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/brandish/
 

GhostCow

Balanced Gamer
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Have you played Brandish? I find it to be a bit of an odd game, but it has:

(1) Turn based combat (very rogue-like though in the way it works);
(2) Stats that you can level up through usage that change the way you can play; and
(3) Third person perspective with combat animations.

Originally out on a number of systems, but I would play the PSP version if you can get access to that.

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/brandish/

Haven't heard of Brandish. That one looks like it's the closest one to what I'm looking for yet. I did play a bit of Robotrek though and that was surprisingly good. Made me wish there was a new Custom Robo game.
 
Joined
Jun 18, 2018
Messages
9
Langrisser IV for PS1 is a fire emblem like game avilable for PS1, albeit fan-translated with full Japanese voice acting and branching paths

Der Langrisser for SNES is also similar but a remake is coming to PC, so you may want to wait for that instead.

Growlanser IV(PSP) is an interesting RTwP JRPG, is pretty challenging and play like IE games where you have to apply several buffs before battle in order to stand a chance. Make sure to get the undub version

These games have limited Character customization though.
 

Grampy_Bone

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Jan 25, 2016
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Wandering the world randomly in search of maps
Haven't heard of Brandish

FYI it's real time. NOT turn based. It's not a roguelike, the enemies do not wait for you, you will die fast if you don't have good reflexes. Rather challenging too, the control scheme is utter balls.

On the chance you haven't played them I'll recommend SaGa games and their derivatives. SaGa Frontier (ps1), Romancing SaGa 3 (PC version just released), Minstrel Song (emulate it on PS2), SaGa Scarlet Grace (just released on PC), and Alliance Alive (just released PC version) and The Last Remnant (PC version removed from sale because Square Enix hates you. May have to torrent it).

All great games with extensive character customization and turn based battles.
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
Points 1 and 4 are rather hard to fill, but G.O.D - Mezameyo to yobu koe ga kikoe fills them. It's for the SNES and has a PS1 remake. I think only the SNES version has a translation patch though.
 

samuraigaiden

Arcane
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Dec 28, 2018
Messages
1,954
Location
Harare
RPG Wokedex
Paladin's Quest and it's sequel Lennus 2 (which got a fan translation). Not the best JRPGs, but they fit the bill.
 

jebsmoker

Arcane
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Joined
Nov 17, 2019
Messages
2,578
Insert Title Here Strap Yourselves In I helped put crap in Monomyth
you could try nemuru mayu, but it has no formal (or fan) english localization
 

Exhuminator

Arcane
Joined
Sep 10, 2015
Messages
609
Okage.jpg
Opoona.jpg
PS2-Tsugunai-Atonement.jpg
 

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